Welcome Back!

Hello!

The staff lodge at Baker.

I can’t believe that I’m writing another post on this blog! When I wrote my last post, I really thought it would be the last entry because I wouldn’t be returning to Mountain TOP for another summer. But instead, here I am writing again and preparing to be a director at Mt TOP this summer. So let me explain. It all starts with how my study abroad plans (spoiler alert, I’m currently studying in Bolivia!) changed and how God led me back to the mountain.

When I first began my research on where to study abroad this time last year, I narrowed my choice down to either Chile or Bolivia. I initially was more drawn to Bolivia, but I decided to apply to go to instead Chile because it is a slightly more developed and stable country. I accepted that going abroad meant that I wouldn’t be able to return to Mountain TOP because my program would end in mid-June, too late to work at MT. TOP. Instead, I decided that the summer of 2014 would be my time to get a traditional summer internship, study for grad school entry exams, and figure out what exactly I want to do after I graduate. I was so sure that I wouldn’t be back at Mountain TOP that I told all my campers this summer that they definitely wouldn’t be seeing me next year (sorry if any of you are reading this!).

I'm currently living in Cochabamba!

I’ve never questioned my desire to go abroad, but as this summer progressed I felt more and more upset that I wouldn’t be able to return and be a director. I’ve always wanted the chance to be a director and lead an entire staff through the craziness that is a summer at Mt. TOP. So this August when the official dates for Chile and Bolivia study abroad programs were released and I discovered that the Bolivian program ended in mid-May rather than June, I was thrilled. I knew if I returned mid-May then there was a chance I could return to Mt. TOP again. So after some more research into Bolivia, I changed my plans and decided to go to Bolivia rather than Chile.

Me speaking to the camp community last summer.

However, I knew that if I was going to return to Mt TOP staff, I wanted to make sure that I was doing so because that’s where God wanted me to be and not because I wanted to spend another summer in one of my favorite places with some of my best friends. So I took a step back and listened to what God wanted. And what I received were dozens of images of me being a director – making speeches, giving messages, talking with adults, guiding my staff – and each image filled me with immense joy. I wanted the responsibility that comes with being a director and the opportunity to share all the gifts I’ve been given with campers and other staffers. Confident of my call, I applied to be a director, and Support Staff graciously worked with me to ensure that I’ll be prepared for this summer even though I’m abroad right now.

Me and my old staff at Greeter Falls on R&R.

As a director, I’ll be in charge of ensuring the overall success of the camp and my staff. This broad job description translates into me doing whatever I can to try and make life at camp run as smoothly as possible. I’ll be communicating with church leaders before they get to camp, greeting vans as they arrive, waking campers up by honking my horn every morning, making announcements after meals, giving messages at worship on Sunday and Friday, handling any emergencies that occur during the camp week, and other things that I probably can’t even fathom right now. I’ll also be trying to support the other members of my staff by leading staff worships when we don’t have campers, planning fun staff-bonding adventures for us to do Saturdays during R&R, leading staff meetings every night, and trying my best to ensure that we all are able to work and live together successfully and happily. I know that some of these jobs are going to be very difficult, and I’m sure that there are going to be times this summer that I’ll be unhappy, angry, or overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be more grateful or excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Mt TOP’s theme for this year is “Live Worthy”, based on Ephesians 4:1-6 which read:

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I love that this theme acknowledges that we are called by the same God to carry out His will in many different ways. He blessed each of us with individual gifts and it is our job to listen to what He wants us to do with those blessings. Right now in my life, I feel that God is calling me to be on staff, and I can’t wait to work with my staff to spread God’s message to our campers and the people we work with in the counties. With humility, patience, and a lot of love I’m sure that this summer will be successful even if that success doesn’t quite take the shape that I’m envisioning right now.

So in closing, I’d like to welcome you all back to this blog! I’m really looking forward to sharing whatever adventures unfold over the summer months.

All the best,

Stacy

Closing

Well, I can't believe that I'm home from Tennessee. After the last group of campers left, my staff went out into the county and finished all the projects that campers didn't complete and closed down camp. Then we moved out of Baker (which remember is just a seasonal camp) and into Pines for a few days of closing activities. I celebrated with my staff, and even got to show my Dad around the service area on Saturday! Here are a few pictures of the highlights:

The office, all empty again!

My staff wearing our staff shirts. 

Me at a waterfall I went to with my Dad

My staff at the Closing Service.

I've been home for two days now and am still processing all the amazing experiences I had this summer. I was very blessed to be able to serve God at Mt. TOP this summer, and I'm excited to figure how I will continue to apply the theme of "Faith Works" to the rest of my life. This will most likely be my last blog post, so I want to thank everyone reading this for your prayers and support this summer. It has really been a huge blessing to me during my time at Mt. TOP. Thank you so much!

All the best,

Stacy

SP 7 Recap

Hello!

Well, my last camp week has come and gone. Overall, SP 7 was a great way to end our summer. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week: 

A picture of my whole staff on Sunday before campers arrived!

Monday we did worship at the gate! It was nice to change it up and worship
in a different setting.

My friend Shellee, who was on my staff last year,
came to visit on Tuesday and helped me set-up worship!

The weather was nice on Friday, so we actually had a real campfire!

Here is a picture of my staff setting up for our last Fishhook worship on Friday.

Having the last group of campers leave is always bittersweet, but I try to focus on all the work we've accomplished this summer. While I love having campers, I know that they all have to leave to apply what they've learned at Mt. TOP in their hometowns. For the rest of this week I'm closing camp, and then on Wednesday I'll move back to Mt. TOP's base-camp for a few days of closing before leaving on the 4th. I can't believe the summer's almost over!

SP 5 Recap

Hello!

Another camp week has come and gone, so it's time for a weekly recap! Overall, SP 5 was an awesome week. We had a lot of new churches in camp, and it was really rewarding seeing them learn what Mt. TOP is all about as the week went on. Here are some pictures of my weekly highlights:

Before

After

This banner was part of the worship we did on Monday. When the campers entered worship, the banner looked like it does in the photo on the left. Then after the message (which was on perseverance, Monday's theme) as a response the campers dipped their hand in paint and covered the word "trials" to symbolize pushing through times of struggles with God's help. Then the staff peeled off the tape I had put on the banner before I painted "trials" to reveal the word "faith" to show that when we persevere we grow in faith and become closer to God. It was one of my favorite worships this summer!

Since this past Thursday was 4th of July, we all dressed up in patriotic clothes for HUM Day. One of the camp rules is no fireworks, but the staff put on a "human firework show" where we all acted like different types of fireworks.

One of my jobs on Friday is to facilitate campfire. At campfire, campers perform skits, songs, poems, etc... that showcase the experiences they've been through during the week. We usually build a bonfire, but since it was raining, we had to have campfire in the Pavilion (but I did draw a fire as a substitute). 

One of my favorite parts of the week was when my friend Robyn, who was on my staff last year, came for a surprise visit! I was so excited to see her, and very blessed that she got to attend Friday worship. It's crazy how some many things have changed since last summer, yet it's so easy to fall back into a rhythm when you reconnect with old friends!

Finally, here's a picture of Friday night worship. It's definitely one of my favorite worship setting this summer!

That's it for now! On Wednesday, I return from break and begin preparing for my last week of campers. I can't believe that the summer is nearing an end. It seems like just last week I was arriving for training. Time certainly does fly!

All the best,

Stacy

SP 3 Recap

Hello!

My second group of campers have come and gone, and I can't believe I'm almost halfway through the summer! SP 3 (which stands for Service Project Week 3, the third week campers are here) went really well. I was really excited about this week because I had been campers with several of the churches who came, so I knew a lot of people from the community. So, without further to do, here are some of my favorite pictures from the week!

My entire staff! Top row: Me, Ben, Jayke
Bottom row: Tyler, Mary, Rachael, Victoria, and Jacob

Mary facilitating a game on Sunday.

The setup for  Friday night worship.

Staff huddle during Saturday's closing circle.

Me with two of my campers I've known since I was a camper!

My staff playing volleyball Saturday night after campers left.

So that's SP 3! Overall, it was an awesome camp week. Over break I stayed with a local family and caught up on sleep, laundry, and Skype-dates with my friends back home. Tomorrow I start pre-camp for SP 5. Break was lovely, but I'm ready to get back to work!

All the best,
Stacy

HUM Day!

Hello!

I thought I'd do a quick post for you guys today and share a picture of my staff dressed up for HUM Day. At Mt TOP, we call Wednesday HUM day (Halfway Up the Mountain Day) because it is halfway through the camp week. To celebrate, the staff dresses up in crazy outfits for breakfast!

On the top row: Ben, Me, Jayke. On the bottom row: Tyler, Rachael, Victoria, and Jacob

I always like HUM Day because it gives me a chance to break out some of my crazy clothes. So far, this camp week is going pretty well. The camp community is awesome, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the week has in store for us!

All the best,
Stacy

Fish Camp

My first week of campers is over! This first week was a special week called Fish Camp. Fish Camp is for rising 6th graders to rising 8th graders. It runs from Tuesday to Saturday (shorter than a typical camp week), but Fish Camp campers ("fishies" as we lovingly called them) still do all of the same things as the 13-18 year olds who attend our main youth summer camp (YSM). Projects are just altered to be more appropriate for Fish Camp. For example, instead of building a porch fishies built a gate.  

Overall, it was an awesome week. It was incredible to see how excited the campers were about everything we did. From the games, to the nightly sharing, to worship, the fishies were always ready to participate. Here's some of my favorite photos from the week!

The setup for our opening worship on Tuesday.

Campers trying to make a paper airplane as part of a game on Tuesday.

How quickly can you hammer nails into 1x?

Campers playing a game on Thursday.

My staff wearing our Fish Camp shirts and making the "Fish Camp symbol" with our hands.

After campers left on Saturday, we tied up loose ends around camp and then went to a local bluegrass festival for R&R (which stands for "rest and relaxation". Every Saturday evening our staff gets to do something fun after a full week of work). Then after church on Sunday, I left for break. I met my family at Lake Norris and had a fun few days hanging out with them and enjoying the water.

My siblings and I on our boat.

Yesterday I returned to camp to start preparing for the 115 campers that will be arriving on Sunday. Hopefully the next week of campers will go just as well as Fish Camp went. As always, thank you so much for all your prayers and support.

All the best,

Stacy